Folding-bed.



No. 747,186. PATENTED DEG..-15, 1903.. E. L. KIRK.

" FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1903.

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F I 7 l No. 747 186. PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903. E. L. KIRK.

vFOLDING BED.

APPLICATION rum) MAR. 1a, 1903.

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terns Patented December 15, 1903.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,186, dated December 15, 1903.

Application filed March 18, 1903.

To etZZ whom itJW/(by concern:

Be it known that l, EPHRAIM L. KIRK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Im provement in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My improvement relates to folding beds, and particularly to that class of wardrobebeds having a stationary upright case and a single bed-section hinged to fold into or upon said stationary section.

The object of the invention is to produce a folding bed which is substantial, economical, and simple and safe in operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is 'a front elevation of a folding bed embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section showing the bed folded. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the bed open. Fig. 5 is a detail rear View of the movable section. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the rear leg of the bed.

Referring to said drawings, A is the stationary section of the bed. This has the end uprights A, the top piece A the feet A and the base-strips A joining said feet.

Bis the hinged section. This extends into the section A, and it has its length parallel to said section, so that the axis of the bed is parallel to the beds length.

The rod 0 extends through the lower portion of the section B and through the end pieces A at a suitable height to form a hinge for the movable section.

The section B comprises end pieces B and side pieces B Along the lower edge of the inner face of each side piece B is a cleat or strip B These are intended to serve as sup ports for a spring bed-bottom. Each front corner of said section is provided with a suitable folding leg D. These may be arranged in any suitable manner. The drawings show them having their upper endsapplied flatwise against the inner faces of the end pieces B and hinged to said end pieces at D and having a shoulder D extending beneath the adjacent side piece 13 These logs are adapted to operate by gravity, opening automatically when the bed is being opened and closthrough said leg and side piece.

bedis to be folded, said leg is to lie parallel to Serial lie-147,684. (No model.)

' ing automatically when the bed is being closed. These legs constitute ample supports for the front portion of the section B.

To support the rear portion of the bed when it is open and prevent the turning of the section B uponits hinge, so as to close the bed when the weight of the sleeper is applied rearward of the hinge-rod C, I apply one or more folding legs E to the rear portion of the section B. Said leg constitutes a locking-leg, for it looks the hinged section B of the bed in the open position. The drawings show one such leg, and this is applied flatwise to the rear side piece 13 and hinged thereto by a screw or bolt extending transversely into or When the the length of said side piece, and when the bed is open said leg is to turn by gravity and assume the upright position and bear by its lower end against the floor. Before the bed can be folded said leg E must be raised into the horizontal position. For this purpose the drawings show a cord F attached to the upper end of said leg and extending through an aperture F near one end of the adjacent side piece 13 and thence through the inte rior of the section B to the adjacent leg D, to the upper end of which it is attached, so as to be taut when the bed is open and both legs are in the upright position. This makes it possible to fold the rear leg by the folding of said front leg, for the folding of the latter will draw said cord forward within the section B and toward said aperture F behind the section B, causing the upper end of said leg E to move toward said aperture, and thus cause said leg to turn upon its hinge until it assumes the horizontal position. The drawings show a portion of said cord extending through the front side piece B at F far enough to be grasped by the hand for pulling independently of said front leg, and it will be understood that the attachment of said cord to the front leg may be altogether omitted.

Fig. 6 shows the upper end of the leg E provided with a groove e to receive the cord F, and said figure shows a hole 6 extending through said leg transversely to its hinge and shows the cord extending across the upper end of said leg through said groove and then lengthwise through said hole and provided with a retaining-knot e where it emerges from said hole. The cord may be fastened in the same manner to the front leg D. It will be observed that this construction makes it necessary that the cord F be pulled before the hinged section of the bed is turned for folding and that the cord must then be held until the section has been folded, and, conversely, when the bed is to be opened the cord must be held taut until the hinged section has assumed the horizontal position.- Then on releasing the cord the rear leg will fall into the vertical position by gravity; This automatic action is important, for it entirely precludes the possibility of leaving said leg out of position through negligence on the part of the person opening the bed. When the cord is coupled to one of the front legs, said leg must be folded before the bed is closed, and when the bed is to be opened it must be held closed until the bed is open.

Then releasing said leg will allow it and alsothe rear leg to move into position by gravity.

I claim as my invention 1. In a folding bed, the combination with a stationary section and a hinged section arranged lengthwise within said stationary section, of folding legs applied to the front of said hinged section and a locking-leg hinged to the rear of said hinged section to turn in a plane parallelto the rear side piece of said section, and means for turning said log out of the vertical position.

2. In a folding bed, the combination with a stationary section and a hinged section arranged lengthwise within said stationary section, of folding legs applied to the front of said hinged section and a locking-leg hinged to the rear of said hinged section to turn in a plane parallel to the rear side piece of said section, and a cord attached to said last-men tioned leg and extending through suitable guides to the front portion of said hinged section.

3. In a folding bed, the combination with a stationary section and a hinged section arranged lengthwise within said stationary section, of folding legs applied to the front of said hinged section and a locking-leg hinged to the rear of said hinged section to turn in a plane parallel to the rear side piece of said section, and a cord attached to said rear leg and extending through a suitable guide and to one of said front legs, to which itis secured.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 5th day of March, 1903. I

EPHRAIM L. KIRK. Witnesses:

CYRUS KEHR, CARRIE R. IVY. 

